How to Potty Train a Dog: Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

Like babies, puppies need to learn how to control themselves and find the right spot for urinating or eliminating wastes; this simple routine is called 'potty training'. If you want to know how to potty train a dog, you must first find out if your dog easily understands your commands or if it takes time for him to understand any simple instruction from you. Does your dog easily retain simple commands? Or does he respond positively when you motivate him with a treat? Knowing your dog's attitude is very important if you want to succeed in potty training him.

Most pet owners agree that when their dogs pee on furniture, appliances, and even carpet, it has become very stressful for them to clean up; the best answer for this problem is by potty training their pets. Although there are professional dog trainers who know how to potty train a dog and could train yours for a certain fee, this might be useless, and not to mention expensive, if your dogs do not easily open up to strangers. The best choice, then, is to potty train your dog personally.

Below are tips you should take note of if you want to learn how to potty train a dog. The training process is fairly easy, that is, if your pet has enough trust for you. Dogs tend to retain their lessons when they are rewarded than punished. Pet owners who know little about training dogs should bear in mind that it requires a great amount of trust, respect, and patience for your dog if you want them to become more obedient. If you show them you are something, or someone, to be feared, they will only cower and ignore your commands.

In order to potty train a dog successfully, you must understand the fundamentals of dog training; timing and effort are two key concepts which are involved in this process. Evidently, the best age to potty train a dog is during their puppy stage. The earlier you teach them to get used to eliminating their wastes in the proper area, the sooner they learn the routine; however, if they are already too old, just keep on repeating this routine until it becomes their habit.

By nature, dogs do not relieve themselves in territories they are familiar with or identify as their home; in fact, dogs are known to hold in their wastes until they can no longer do so. When a dog relieves himself inside the house, try not to look at this as his way of disrespecting you. Like humans, dogs need to be corrected, too. To potty train a dog well, you must look at this activity as an opportunity to bond with him and to gain his trust.

As mentioned earlier, you must follow a strict feeding routine. Later on, your dog will pattern his bowel movements after his feeding routine. Always try to feed your dog at the same time daily and take him outside of the house 10 to 15 minutes after the meal. Let him walk around but try not to play with him or he will think of it as his playing schedule instead of his potty schedule.

When your dog finally eliminates his wastes in the proper area, praise him and hand him a treat; keep with this routine until he gets used to it. To make sure your dog remembers this lesson, you must show him disapproval when he relieves himself inside the house. You should call his attention (shout at him but do not hit him!) when you catch him in the act and take him outside.

The training process could be long and confusing, depending on your dog's attitude; hence, if you want to learn how to train a dog successfully, you must refer to the right resources. Read here to learn how to potty train a dog. Find out how to potty train a dog successfully.

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